Bad Times At The El Royale (2018)

Sometimes films come and go from the theaters and sometimes we just do not have the time to see one even though it was on your list of films to watch. Today's film, Bad Times At The El Royale which was written and directed by Drew Goddard (The Cabin In The Woods) was one of those films even thought it boasted a tremendous cast, I never had the chance to check out the crime drama. You do know what they say, better late than never. The film follows four very different people who check into a hotel named the El Royale, a hotel that divides California from Nevada features the priest (Jeff Bridges), the singer (Cynthia Erivo), the salesman (Jon Hamm), and the runaway (Dakota Johnson). While all four may appear  to be one thing, they each have their own agenda and reason for being at the hotel, but as things begin to unravel they are not what they seem to be. The film also stars Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Infinity War) as Billy Lee, Cailee Spaeny (On The Basis Of Sex) as Rose, Lewis Pullman (The Strangers: Prey At Night) as Miles Miller, Nick Offerman (Parks And Recreation) as Felix O'Kelly, Shea Whigham (Silver Linings Playbook) as Dr. Woodbury Laurence, and Xavier Dolan (I Killed My Mother) as Buddy Sunday.

The thing that I really liked about the movie was the fact that they sort of divided it into chapters especially if t twas a flashback to show you the origins of certain characters. I love how with the four that checked in, it all played to the very same moment in the film, but you were able to see it in different angles and viewpoints. I do have to say though that things became very interesting when Chris Hemsworth's character showed up because he sort of had a presence to him like he was modeled after Charles Manson. He's dangerous and he believes in his bullshit so much that he thinks and believes that he is larger than life. Now, I thought every actor did an amazing job with their roles, but Dakota Fanning's character was sort of the oddball out. I didn't believe her character's presence was any good and her backstory was kind of lame because it had more to do with a different person. I definitely thought that the film was going to head in a certain direction due to Jon Hamm, but it all changes as the film goes on. Lewis Pullman may just play a bellhop named Miles, but he becomes more and more interesting as the film continues and is definitely someone to watch for because he is just as interesting and important as the others. I liked the cinematography in the film as well as the actual set and costumes and I said before the acting was a very strong point for the film. I definitely think it is worth one watch which is why I am going to give the film an B for a final grade.

The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)

The film that I chose for today, I had a chance to watch the first time around when I did my first 366 challenge, but unfortunately I never got around to it. The film I chose for today is based on true events and a true experiment that took place at Stanford University. The film and the experiment was called The Stanford Prison Experiment and it was directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez (13 Reasons Why). The film stars Billy Crudup (Almost Famous) as Dr. Philip Zimbardo, a professor who decides that he is going to hire equal amounts of men so that he can perform an experiment to see how each person would react when given a certain role which is either prisoner or prison guard. The film also stars Michael Angarano (Almost Famous) as Chris, Moises Arias (Nacho Libre) as Anthony,  Nicholas Braun (Red State) as Karl, Keir Gilchrist (It Follows) as John, Ki Hong Lee (The Maze Runner) as 3401, Thomas Mann (Me, Earl, and The Dying Girl) as prisoner 416, Ezra Miller (Justice League) as 8612, Logan Miller (Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse) as 5486, Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse) as 819, Johnny Simmons (Scott Pilgrim Vs The World) as 1037, Olivia Thirlby (Juno) as Dr. Christina Maslach, and the late Nelsan Ellis (True Blood) as Jesse Fletcher.

The film features a lot of the whose who of young actors in Hollywood that we have seen in countless films so this was a chance for some of them to have more serious roles. I am going to start by saying that I really did enjoy the film because you're waiting to see what happens next and if there will be chaos, but the film was definitely well acted and if I had to pick my MVP's of the film, the award would go to Ezra Miller who played that generations whiner and Michael Angarano who literally transformed on screen when he became a prison guard and he was truly fascinating to watch the whole time. None of the other prison guards could come close to him even though Nicholas Braun did well too so I would give him honorable mention. Sometimes you wonder why the ethics board is all over you when you are trying to do something and that is because of experiments like this which could have lasting effects. My only criticism of the film is that while they may have nailed the look as far as hairstyles, but some of these guys looked so goofy and awkward with mustaches. I couldn't take those serious when I saw some of the characters with them, but other than that they pretty much nailed it. If you are in to films that are based on true stories like myself then this is definitely one to watch. For more information like what the real Zimbardo thought of the film and other things, check out this article here. I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.

The Invisible Man (2020)

When I had first heard that Universal was thinking about bringing back the famous Universal Monsters for their version of the MCU entitled The Dark Universe, I was super excited. Then The Mummy starring Tom Cruise was released in 2017 and bombed at the box office almost forcing The Dark Universe to crumble and die. That is until director/writer Leigh Whannell (Upgrade) decided to take over the script for The Invisible Man which happens to be today's film. The film stars Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) as Cecilia Kass, a woman who had to run away from her abusive husband Andrew (played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen) in the middle night in a great deal of fear. She soon finds out that he has committed suicide and that he leaves her a fortune, but she begins to suspect that the suicide is a hoax and that he is stalking her by being invisible, but will anyone believe her? The film also stars Harriet Dyer (Love Child) as Emily Kass, Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton) as James, Storm Reid (A Wrinkle In Time) as Sydney, Michael Dorman (Killer Elite) as Tom, Benedict Hardie (Upgrade) as Marc, Renee Lim (Please Like Me) as Doctor Lee, Nicholas Hope (Scooby-Doo) as Head Doctor, and Sam Smith (The Nightengale) as Det. Reckley.

Spoiler Alert: Moving forward in this paragraph there will be details that are spoiled about the film so proceed with caution. One of the things they did right with this film was the execution of everything from the acting to the writing and anything in-between. I loved the fact that it wasn't a traditional horror film and that it thrived off the fact that it wanted to make you very uncomfortable and the music definitely helped with that. One of the main things I also liked about the film was the fact that he doesn't turn invisible because of a potion or a science experiment gone bad, he turns invisible because he has a suit that is made entirely of cameras that capture the surroundings constantly. That concept to me was just brilliant because it makes it believable that someone could create this technology especially in this day and age and this is dangerous technology placed in the wrong hands. I loved the final battle scene (if you want to call it that) because it exposed him to the world and it finally proved that she wasn't going crazy after all. I want to give big kudos to the makeup department for doing a great job with Moss who while in the institution was looking worse for wear and they captured that well. Leigh Whannell has proven to me in two films that he might have a claim to sit up in the throne with fellow Saw alumnus James Wan as far as this generation's leading horror/sci-fi men. As I said before, the film is not very scary, but it's just skin crawling cringe and that is exactly what this kind of film needed. I hope this does give life back to The Dark Universe so we can finally get what we want. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Buffalo '66 (1998)

On a former blog site of mine, I used to have a segment that was called celebrity crushes and I would talk about what they were doing today and etc. So for today's film, I have decided to check one out from one of my celebrity crushes in Christina Ricci (The Addams Family) who starred in 1998's Buffalo '66. The film was written, directed, and starred Vincent Gallo (Arizona Dream) as Billy Brown, a recently released ex-con who needs to visit his parents in Buffalo, but the problem is that he has lied about his whereabouts and has told them he was married. So Billy acts out and he decides to kidnap Layla (Ricci) and have her pretend to be his wife and while she agrees to do it she finds herself falling in love with the very eccentric and different Billy. The other issue is that he has bad intentions for the night, but can she convince him otherwise. The film also stars Ben Gazzara (The Big Lebowski) as Jimmy Brown, Anjelica Huston (The Addams Family) as Jan Brown, Mickey Rourke (Sin City) as The Bookie, Rosanna Arquette (The Whole Nine Yards) as Wendy, Jan-Michael Vincent (Airwolf) as Sonny, Kevin Pollak (The Whole Ten Yards) as Sportscaster, and Kevin Corrigan (True Romance) as Goon.

This film was as equally interesting as it was equally frustrating at times and I mean that with the upmost respect. I thought the acting on every end was very well done as Gallo inherits the role of a true auteur when he wrote, directed, and starred in the film. Christina Ricci was as equally amazing as she was sweet, innocent, and beautiful in the film. The story is that Billy does some time for a crime he did not commit and that's all because he owed $10,000 to a bookie (nice cameo by Rourke) so the only way to pay him back was to do this. I am following along with all of that, but what loses me is the fact that Ricci has been kidnapped, but she is falling in love with the guy in every waking moment. I get the whole idea of Stockholm Syndrome, but to a guy like Billy Brown and that quick? That was kind of throwing me for a loop, but I went along with it because I knew they were going to fall in love with each other and I needed a good story. Then you get to the nice awkward family scenes at Billy's childhood home and it was just a little over the top. I definitely thought that Ben Gazzara stole those scenes that he was in. There's this moment in the film when Billy is in the strip club and the slow motion to stop motion was pretty cool and different. I did not expect that at all much like I didn't expect to like this film. I wish they did more with the bathtub scene, but I'll take what I can get and enjoyed it even with all its faults which is why I am going to give the film an B for a final grade.

Mayhem (2017)

There are so many different ways to watch films these days from your television, DVD's, Redbox, Netflix, Disney Plus, and so many more. If you are a fan of horror then one app you will definitely want to check out is Shudder which is a reasonably priced app. The film I chose for today is featured on the app and it stars one of my personal favorites in Samara Weaving (The Babysitter) and it called Mayhem which was directed by Joe Lynch (Chillerama). The film stars Steven Yeun (I Origins) as Derek Cho, a rising star in a huge law firm that is about to find out that he was just framed for something he didn't commit and he is about to be fired. Before he can get the boot, the building is put on lock down due to a virus that causes it's victims to act out their wildest urges and with the help of Melanie Cross (Weaving), he'll get the revenge he craves because of the virus no one is held accountable for their actions. The film also stars Steven Brand (The Scorpion King) as The Boss, Caroline Chikezie (Supernatural) as The Siren, Dallas Roberts (Dallas Buyers Club) as The Reaper, Mark Frost (Faust) as Ewan, Claire Dellamar (Dick Pic) as Meg, and André Eriksen (Vikings) as The Bull.

This was an excellent film from beginning to end and I say that because there was non stop bloody action and mayhem (pun intended). I loved the concept of the film where because Derek found that legal loophole, you can do whatever you want and not be held accountable as long as you are infected. Remember, they are acting on pure impulses because of what the virus does to you. It kind of has the feel of 28 Days Later without them being zombies and at the work place like Fight Club. I thought some of the acting was a little over the top, but it actually worked for this situation because this is a satire of ruthless no good coke snorting lawyers and the crap they get away with. We are supposed to be rooting for Derek and hope that he catches up to his jerk boss before the quarantine time is up and they succeed in accomplishing that. The acting from Steven Yeun and Samara Weaver was fantastic and Samara is growing to be one of my favorites as she carried The Babysitter, Ready Or Not, and definitely helped with this one. Yeun does an amazing job as the films main character and protagonist as I said before you root for him to make it to the end. If you love the right kind of insanity to go with your comedy and horror then this is definitely the film to watch and you can do so on Shudder. Remember, the film has lots of action, great comedy, some nudity, and some bad ass scenes which is why I am going to go ahead and give the film an A- for a final grade. 

The Rocketeer (1991)

Before the creation of the MCU by Disney, there were not a lot of comic book films that were coming out or at least that were treated seriously by the box office. In the 1990's, various film studios started to take chances on random comic book titles that faithfuls would know like Tank Girl, Judge Dredd, Barb Wire, The Crow, and today's film The Rocketeer which was released in 1991 by Disney and directed by Joe Johnston (Captain America: The First Avenger). The film stars Billy Campbell (Bram Stoker's Dracula) as airplane pilot Cliff in pre-World War II 1938 Los Angeles who just wants to fly a plane in Nationals and marry his girl Jenny (Jennifer Connelly), but an accident with one of the planes sets him back. One day, Billy stumbles on to a prototype of a jet pack that allows him to become a hero, but there are some very bad people after this jet pack. The film also stars Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) as Peevy, Timothy Dalton (License To Kill) as Neville Sinclair, Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) as Eddie Valentine, Terry O'Quinn (Primal Fear) as Howard Hughes, Ed Lauter (King Kong) as Fitch, Jon Polito (The Crow) as Bigelow, Tiny Ron (Last Man Standing) as Lothar, and Eddie Jones (Sneakers) as Malcolm.

When I saw that Joe Johnston directed this film, it made a lot of sense to me because it had the same feel and aesthetic as Captain America: First Avenger. It's almost an updated version of The Rocketeer, but this film was actually pretty good that was actually an enjoyable film from beginning to end. The only thing that I would criticize is that Lothar just looked like he was wearing a mask the whole entire film much like the look of Dick Tracy (the film). I thought that Timothy Dalton was actually a really good villain and it makes perfect sense because he's a great actor, but he is a good opposite of what Billy is. Billy is a grease monkey pilot who is blue collar in love with a girl that is out of this world and just happens to be an actress which is what Dalton's character is. It was definitely the perfect set up for a great show down at the end of the film inside of a Zeppelin. I thought the gangsters int he film were a little cheesy, but they actually matched the times and what we thought of how Gangsters were in those Cagney times so it's safe to say that I loved it. All I could think of was Cagney and him saying, "Yeah! tell him the Valentine Gang did it!" The one thing that I absolutely did love about this film was the sets that were used like the Bull Dog Cafe which is so cool looking and in fact Disney has a replica of it in a museum. This isn't the greatest superhero movie ever made because I think that still belongs to The Dark Knight, but this was fun and it's all thanks to DC and Batman 1989 being so popular. I am going to give the film an B- for a final grade.

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)

One of my favorite things about this blog and Sundays is that I am trying to take the time to check out some classic cinema. Thanks to Timeless Classic Movies on Youtube, I have a chance to do that for Sunday At The Classics and we have a good one for you today. When I was a kid, Warren Beatty brought us his own version of Dick Tracy which I remember loving as a kid. So, I wanted to check out a classic Dick Tracy film and I present to you Dick Tracy Vs Gruesome. Things are about to get a little complicated for Dick Tracy as a gang of criminals that features a piano player named Melody (Tony Barrett) and an very imposing ex-convict aptly named Gruesome (Boris Karloff) find out that a scientist has developed a nerve gas that freezes everyone temporarily in their place and they use it to rob banks. Now, Tracy and the rest of the police force have very limited amount of time to catch these guys before it's too late. The film stars Anne Gwynne (House Of Frankenstein) as Tess Trueheart, Edward Ashley (Pride And Prejudice) as Dr. L.E. Thal, June Clayworth (Live, Love, and Learn) as Dr. Irma M. Learned, Lyle Latell (Dick Tracy Vs Cueball) as Pat Patton, Skelton Knaggs (Captain Video, Master Of The Stratosphere) as X-Ray, Milton Parsons (The Wild Wild West) as Dr. A. Tomic, Ralph Byrd (Dick Tracy Vs Crime, Inc.) as Dick Tracy, and the film was directed by John Rawlins (Arabian Nights).

One thing that I will say about the film is that I kind of wished that Dick Tracy had a stronger presence in the film than he did. He was barely in the film to the point that I thought the film should have been titled Gruesome Meets Dick Tracy. It was to the point that we were seeing more of his partner Pat then we were of him until the end of the film. Nonetheless, there is a lot to enjoy about this film besides the funny names they came up with for their characters and that is the masterful performance by Boris Karloff. Boris commanded the screen with a presence that just demanded that you stopped everything you were doing to watch him. Gruesome had to be one of the vilest and ruthless villains I can remember as he cleans up all the loose ends and he makes it interesting as he continues to outsmart the police. The acting in the film is really good as everyone brings something to the table which made it enjoyable to watch. One thing that I do wish wee got was more of those outrageous characters like Flattop or even Pruneface would have been cool, but as I said we had Gruesome. If you're into 1930's styled police capers and what not then this is definitely one to check out or if you love Karloff as much as I do then check it out for sure. His performance alone in the film jumped the final grade to an B. 

Keeping The Faith (2000)

Stop me if you've heard this one before, a priest, a rabbi, and a girl head into a bar... you guys can seriously stop me anytime. That is because the film I chose for today sort of has that premise as we tackle another Sheldon's choice in 2000's Keeping The Faith. The film was directed by and stars Edward Norton (Primal Fear) as Father Brian Finn who recounts a story of love and betrayal to a bartender (Brian George). Brian along with Rabbi Jake Schram (Ben Stiller) have been friends ever since they were kids, but they'll never forget the girl they were in love with when they were kids because she has returned into their lives and she complicates things as both of them once again fall in love. The film also stars Jenna Elfman (Ed TV) as Anna Riley, Anne Bancroft (The Graduate) as Ruth Schram, Eli Wallach (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) as Rabbi Ben Lewis, Ron Rifkin (A Star Is Born) as Larry Friedman, Milos Forman (One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest) as Father Havel, Holland Taylor (Two And A Half Men) as Bonnie Rose, Rena Sofer (The Bold and The Beautiful) as Rachel Rose, Ken Leung (Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force Awakens) as Don, and Lisa Edelstein (Girlfriends Guide To Divorce) as Ali Decker.

I am not so sure how I feel about Jenna Elfman because she was an OK actress who gained popularity through a television show, but she was not a leading lady because her performance in this film was OK. I thought that the strongest performances in the film came from Ben and Edward who play the stars of the show, but I just felt that Jenna couldn't really keep up with their star power. There were times where some of her mannerisms felt too forced in some scenes, but as far as the movie was concerned this was a decent first attempt at directing by Edward Norton. There were definitely moments in the film placed their for his fellow actors to shine that could have been left out because they either dragged the scene too long or just were unnecessary. I'm not sure if he intentionally was trying to point out the dilemma between interfaith relationships and what I mean by that is they represented the new ideals where anyone should marry anyone regardless of faith versus the people Stiller was trying to impress that represented the old way of thinking. Nonetheless, the film loses it's steam in that regard as it gets lost in the romantic comedy Hollywood tropes that it tries to follow faithfully. It is not a terrible movie by any means, but two hours was just too much for this film. There is definitely some fantastic moments like the cinematography or Ken Leung as Don the karaoke salesmen. That is why I checked it out for free on VUDU and also why I am going to give the film an C+/B- (Somewhere in there) for a final grade.

Limitless (2011)

Bradley Cooper is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors and it should be no surprise as this is the fourth film I have checked out from him so far (Silver Linings Playbook, Burnt, & A Star Is Born). I am also learnign that he and Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook) were apparently a package deal for some time as they star together again in today's film Limitless. Imagine this scenario for a second, what if there was a drug in the world that allowed you to access every single part of your brain to allow you to perform at your very best. The question is would you take that drug and what are the costs that come with it? That is the very question that Edward Morra (Cooper) is faced with in this film as he flirts with Godlike abilities. The film also stars De Niro as Carl Van Loon,  Abbie Cornish (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as Lindy, Andrew Howard (Taken 3) as Gennady, Anna Friel (Land Of The Lost) as Melissa, Johnny Whitworth (Empire Records) as Vernon, Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3) as Pierce, Ned Eisenberg (The Burning) as Morris Brandt, Tomas Arana (The Bourne Supremacy) as The Man in The Tan Coat, Richard Bekins (How We Got Away With It) as Hank Atwood, and the film was directed by Neil Burger (Divergent).

One thing that I will say about the film is that it actually kept me glued the whole entire time because the story is interesting enough. It's not the first time we've had a film that asked that very question about what happens when we can access every inch of the brain, but this is the one that was actually well done and more believable unlike Lucy. I loved all of the post edit stuff with the letters appearing and how you can see so many versions of yourself, I thought it was more clever than all of a sudden transforming yourself into a computer. The other side that I enjoyed was the fact that they presented a danger that comes with taking it that is not only what happens when others find out about it, but what happens to you if you stop taking it or don't have enough of it. What are the moral repercussions and what happens if you abuse the drug? The major acting in the film was left to Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro who do a dynamite job of carrying the film while everyone else does their part of being support. I loved some of the action sequences that you are treated to like the subway fight and even some of the more squeamish moments as well. This is definitely one of those films that you just take the chance on and you watch it because Bradley Cooper is the man and one of the best actors out there today. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade and you can check it out on Netflix as we speak.

Good Time (2017)

Earlier in the year, we introduced you to the Safdie brothers (Benny and Josh) who directed the film Uncut Gems that starred Adam Sandler that was a surprise at the box office. That was a very unique film that they made to see if I enjoyed their style. So, I decided to go on Netflix and after seeing that they had a film on there I decided that I would check it out in 2017's Good Time. The film stars Robert Pattinson (The Lighthouse) as Connie Nikas, a guy on the wrong side of the law that decides to get his developmentally disabled brother Nick (Benny Safdie) in a bank robbery that goes terribly wrong. The only problem is that Connie manages to escape while his little brother gets caught and sent to jail. All Connie needs to do to get him out is to come up with $15,000, but he also has to avoid getting caught by the police and that is going to prove to be challenging. The film also stars Buddy Duress (Beware Of Dog) as Ray,  Taliah Webster (Hair Wolf) as Crystal, Jennifer Jason Leigh (Fast Times At Ridgemont High) as Corey Ellman, Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) as security guard, Necro as Caliph, and Peter Verby as Peter The Psychiatrist.

After watching this film, I have come to the conclusion that while I may not be a huge fan of their directing style or even their writing skills, this was not a terrible film. They have this thing with just launching you into a story and you have to figure out what in the hell is going on and why are these people even important?  The style of the film is almost identical to that of Uncut Gems which means there is not a lot that is going into the main plot other than the fact that Robert Pattinson has to save his brother. In this film, we get introduced to characters and the one rule is that you better not get too attached to some of them because they are gone just as quick as they arrive like Jennifer Jason Leigh's character. One thing that I will say is that each film has amazing performances from their main star with Sandler being awesome in Gems and Robert Pattinson just killing it in this film. He just commands the screen every time he is on it and he has more than proven that he should not be judged by the fact that he was in The Twilight Series. You saw the masterful performance from him in The Lighthouse and you get just that in this one as he manages to slither his way through New York City. The cinematography and tones are very visceral and intense and can I just say that Peter the shrink just kind of weirds me out a little bit. The film is on Netflix as I said and it's worth the watch. That is why I am going to be giving the film an B for a final grade and only because of Pattinson's performance alone.

Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)

Whenever a sleeper film or a film that studios are not sure how will be received does very well at the box office then you can bet your bottom dollar that a sequel will be in the works. That was definitely the case with 2017's Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle which made their money back almost ten fold. So now we fast forward to 2019 and everyone is back for the sequel in Juamnji: The Next Level. For Spencer (Alex Wolff) he thought that things were going to be different for him after what happened in the game in the first film, but that isn't the case he struggles with life in New York City. Home of the winter break, Spencer returns home and things don't seem right especially now that his grandfather (Danny DeVito)is living with him. The only problem is that Spencer has gone back into the game and now it's up to Fridge (Ser'Darius Blain), Martha (Morgan Turner), Bethany (Madison Iseman), Alex (Colin Hanks), his grandfather, and his friend Milo (Danny Glover) to save the day. The film also stars Dwayne Johnson (Central Intelligence) as Bravestone, Kevin Hart (Night School) as Mouse, Jack Black (Orange County) as Oberon, Karen Gillan (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as Ruby,  Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) as Ming, Nick Jonas (Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle) as Seaplane, and the film was directed by Jake Kasdan.

I went into this wondering if they could pull off the sequel because the first film was magic and I have to honestly say that I enjoyed it a lot. I don't believe that the film was better than the first, but I really liked what they did when they added new levels and characters to the game because it made it interesting. The other dynamic that made the film work is that not everyone had the same avatar which made it hilarious especially when you have Kevin Hart and The Rock acting like Danny Glover and Danny DeVito. That also made the pairing of The Rock and Hart even better as both of these guys obviously work well together with all that chemistry. The action sequences in the film are just as cool as the first film, but one of the craziest scenes ever has to be the one with the Mandrills and the bridge. That was such an awesome and chaotic action sequence that it kept me glued to my seat. Other than that, there were a lot of decent moments in the film that gave you a lot of laughs especially when Kevin Hart was portraying Danny Glover, but it didn't wow me completely like the first film. One thing they did was at the end of the film, there is an extra scene that leaves the film up for a third film to make it a trilogy, but to be honest I am not quite sure if I would be down with a third film. By the looks of it, they have almost totaled the box office of the first film so I would not be surprised if they did. I am going to give the film an B for a final grade.

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018)

The film that I chose for today has one of the most deceiving titles of all and I say that because what you read is sort of not what you get (I will explain this later). The film I chose for today I had seen while strolling through HULU and of course if the title The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot doesn't attract you to it then I don't know what will. The film was released in 2018 and it was written, produced, and directed by Robert D. Krzykowski in his feature film debut and it stars Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born) as legendary American war veteran Calvin Barr. Calvin was the man responsible for killing the real Adolph Hitler during World War II, but the only problem is that no one knows about it. Well, there is one man that believes he knows and that is FBI Agent Flag Pin (Ron Livingston) who along with a Canadian agent hires Calvin to hunt the legendary Bigfoot who is believed to be carry a deadly virus that is killing off most of the wildlife. The film also stars Aidan Turner (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) as Young Calvin Barr, Larry Miller (10 Things I Hate About You) as Ed Barr, Mark Steger (Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark) as The Bigfoot, and Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters Of Sex) as Maxine.

One thing that I am glad about is that they didn't make Bigfoot look like Harry and The Hendersons, but if I am being a little bit honest he was weird looking. The reason that I said this is a film that what you read is not what you get is because I was expecting a really cheesy film, but what you get is an actual deep story of regrets from a man who seems to have done it all. Calvin is a man of honor and he never says no to serving his nation, but he lets the most important thing go in his life and that was love. So, the film is definitely more than just an action movie with a ridiculous idea of a man hunting Bigfoot so check off the great story category. One thing that it does that I liked is how it jumps back and forth from the present to the past because it has to help set things up. How does he get in enough to kill Adolph Hitler and how did it affect his life? The fight and chase scenes between Calvin and The Bigfoot were great as well although I don't understand why the Bigfoot threw up when he was stabbed, but it is what it is. The cinematography is another strong point in this film with all the great scenery towards the end of film and in various other scenes as well. Believe it or not, this is definitely a must see film because Sam Elliot plays that old cowboy whose on his last hurrah very well and that is what we love about him. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Out of all the films that were up for Oscars this year, the one film I was very curious about was one that was directed by the amazingly funny Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows) and he also wrote and co-starred in Jojo Rabbit which is based off of the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens. The film stars Roman Griffin Davis in his very first role as Jojo, a boy who desperately wants to be in the Hitler Youth during World War II to impress both the real and imaginary friend form of Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi). Unfortunately for him, an accident at the Hitler Youth getaway leaves him crippled, scared, and only able to do whatever the post office needs him to do. One day Jojo discovers that his mother has been allowing a Jewish girl by the name of Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) to live in their house and now Jojo has a new purpose in life and that is learn everything he can about Jewish people to gain an advantage, but that may not prove to be easy. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson (Avengers) as Rosie, Sam Rockwell (Seven Psychopaths) as Captain Klenzendorf, Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) as Fraulein Rahm, Alfie Allen (John Wick) as Finkel,  Stephen Merchant (Good Boys) as Deertz, Archie Yates as Yorki, and Luke Brandon Field (Blackwood) as Christoph.

One thing is definitely for sure and that is you have to give it up for original material because even though it's adapted from a book, it's still felt fresh and new. Taika Waititi is proving to be a hot commodity in Hollywood and he definitely brings the laughs with this one, but one thing that he does well is he adds the heart to the story. This is a great coming of age story for Jojo Rabbit who is all gung ho about being in the Hitler Youth in the beginning, but by the time we get to the end he has grown up and realized that the world needs more love. The one thing that I loved is that the film did not glorify the Nazi party at all, if anything they made them look stupid and ridiculous which is what they were in the first place. Waititi also does a great job of making Adolf Hitler look like a complete moron in this satirical version of him. One of the things I liked about the film is Scarlet Johansson who is this strong woman that believes the war is stupid and that Germany was wrong, but she plays both sides of the fence to survive and to try and save her son from the wrong ideology. It's a very sweet story that ends rather sadly only to come back again with a happy ending. I loved the cinematography in the film and how they were able to capture those times well and the acting was top notch from just about everyone. If you have not seen this film yet, then do yourself a favor and go watch it now. You will definitely not regret it which is why Ia m giving it an A- for a final grade.

White Zombie (1932)

It's another Sunday at the Classics and for this week I wanted to check out a classic film starring the one and only Bela Lugosi (Dracula). One of the first metal bands to name their group after a horror film was Black Sabbath and the trend would continue into the 1980's with the birth of White Zombie who were fronted by rocker/director Rob Zombie (House Of 1000 Corpses), but unlike Sabbath I had never seen the film for which Zombie named his band after until today. The film White Zombie was released in 1932 a year after Lugosi had starred as Dracula, but in this one Lugosi stars as witch doctor 'Murder' Legendre. A young couple is about to arrive in Haiti to get married at the home of the wealthy Charles Beaumont (Robert Frazer), but little do they know that Beaumont has other plans in store for them and it involves the witch doctor who has interior motives himself. The film also stars  Madge Bellamy (Black Paradise) as Madeline Short Parker, John Harron (Below The Line) as Neil Parker, Joseph Cawthorn (The Taming Of The Shrew) as Dr. Bruner, Brandon Hurst (The Man Who Laughs) as Silver, George Burr Macannan (Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon) as Von Gelder - Zombie, Frederick Peters (Miracles Of The Jungle) as Chauvin - Zombie, and the film was directed by Victor Halperin (The Unknown Lover).

One thing you have to remember about a film like this is that it was made in 1932 and all of the special effects are practical. What I mean by practical is that they are going to have a horrible looking vulture fly around when you can definitely see the string attached to him at the time and I can appreciate the effort that went into it. The only thing I could really appreciate were the zombies and not because they looked like flesh eating dead people, but in 1932 zombies in the west indies were newly dead people who were brought back to be mindless drones. That was always the belief and it was shown in films like In The Mouth Of Madness which owes a debt to this film. One of the true highlights of the film was obviously Bela Lugosi who at times was masterful especially when he was going through his diabolical spiel as he turned you into a zombie. I definitely loved his death scene as you can so tell that it was a dummy that hits the water on the way down, but again that's due to special effects being what they were in 1932. One of the things that bothered me about the film were the transition scenes that featured every basic transition that you can get with Windows Movie Maker or iMovie, but again I forgive it for the fact that it came out in 1932, but one thing I can't forgive is that man in blackface. Dan Crimmins plays a random witch doctor who is wearing make up and the worst part about is that they had plenty of African Americans with roles in the film itself. It's a head scratcher, but there are things to like about the film as much as there are things to hate about it. That is why I am giving it an C+ for a final grade.

Donnie Darko (2001)

One of the coolest things is that IMDB.com which is the source for everything movies and television is now a source you can turn to if you want to check out a movie or TV show as they now stream some films. So I thought it was the perfect time to check out a film from one of my favorite actors in Jake Gyllenhaal (The Sisters Brothers) in 2001's Donnie Darko. Gyllenhaal plays the title character in this mystery drama and the problem is that Donnie believes that he sees a man in a morbid rabbit costume that tells him that the world is going to end in 26 days. This chilling revelation freaks Donnie out to the point that the rabbit named Frank (James Duval) can easily manipulate him into committing crimes all the while exploring the idea of time travel. The film also stars Holmes Osborne (That Thing You Do!) as Eddie Darko, Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) as Elizabeth Darko, Mary McDonnell (Dances With Wolves) as Rose Darko, Patrick Swayze (The Outsiders) as Jim Cunningham, Arthur Taxier (Old School) as Dr. Fisher, Beth Grant (No Country For Old Men) as Kitty Farmer, Jena Malone (The Neon Demon) as Gretchen Ross, Seth Rogen (The Lion King) as Ricky Danforth, Drew Barrymore (Bad Girls) as Karen Pomeroy, Noah Wyle (ER) as Prof. Kenneth Monnitoff, and the film was directed by Richard Kelly (Domino).

This was a very interesting movie that had an amazing soundtrack that featured all the best of 80's English Post Punk like Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen, and so many more. I think that is what always attracted me to the film was the soundtrack besides the fact that Jake Gyllenhaal stars in the film. For most of the film you are trying to figure out just what the apocalyptic event is going to be and when you find out you're not disappointed, but it's not what you expect at all. It's kind of those holy crap moments that makes you realize just who Frank really is and what the film has to do with time travel. So, it all comes full circle in the end, but the film introduces this element of chaos paying off in certain circumstances like what happens to Swayze's character. One of the craziest things is the cameo of Seth Rogen who was told to act like an A-hole much like his Freaks & Geeks character. It's a very minor role, but it was just cool to see him in the film and not to mention an appearance by Ashley Tisdale as well. Jake is the star of the film no doubt, but a lot of credit is also due for Mary McDonnell who is playing the mother struggling to connect with her own son, but sort of gets him towards the end. One of the things that may seem cheesy now, but was actually kind of cool was the weird sphere that appears when Frank is usually around. It sort of gives this film of him tapping into the other world. This was an excellent film that deserves a watch especially if you are a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal which is why I am giving the film an A- for a final grade.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Today is a tough day because you are either feeling emotional or you are stressed out because you need the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. If you're feeling sad and lonely or if you are not and are looking for a film to snuggle and watch on Valentine's Day with your loved one then I have just the answer. There are plenty of chick flicks out there and other sappy love stories that I could have watched, but I chose to check out something different in 2008's Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist which was directed by Peter Sollett (Freeheld). The film stars Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim Vs The World) as Nick, a musician who is still hung up really badly over his ex-girlfriend. Kat Dennings (The 40 Year Old Virgin) as Norah, a really shy girl with a secret that is hung up on the fact that she has a crush on Nick. One faithful night, there paths will cross as they search for the ultimate last minute show for one of their favorite bands, but the journey is not going to be that easy for them. The film also stars Aaron Yoo (Friday The 13TH) as Thom, Rafi Gavron (A Star Is Born) as Dev, Ari Graynor (The Disaster Artist) as Caroline, Jay Baruchel (How To Train Your Dragon) as Tal, and Alexis Dziena (Wonderland) as Tris.

There is one scene in this film that I just can never unsee and it has to do with Ari Graynor's character and taking her piece of gum out of a toilet that she threw up into. I just kept yelling at the screen and turning away in horror over what was transpiring. Other than that fiasco, the film was actually very fun to watch as you see this chaotic journey through New York and the five boroughs as they search for this secret show that is happening. The film has a lot of awkward moments and that is not a bad thing because it fit the situation as one is afraid to talk to the other because is he over his girlfriend while the other wants to ask about his ex, but knows that he can't. I loved that they didn't really make them instantly connect, but we were only given glimpses into what could be if they only knew it. The music on the soundtrack is very enjoyable as it's an eclectic mix of different types of rock, etc. I loved the fact that Michael Cera's character was a straight man in an all gay band and he was not ashamed of it. He just wants to clarify that not all the members of the band are Gay and good for him because sexual preference should stop you from starting a band. Music is a powerful tool that can really bring people together and that is great. I thought the film had some real funny moments in it as well as some great writing, acting, and cinematography. That is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade because it's worth the watch even though it's free right now on VUDU. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!

Game Night (2018)

There is a reason why I chose the film that I did for today and it has a lot to do with sibling rivalries because it's a real thing. Anyone that has a brother/sister or multiple siblings knows that you are at least competitive with one of them in almost everything. That is the underlying subject matter in today's film in 2018's mystery comedy flick Game Night that was directed by John Francis Daley (Waiting...) and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses). The film stars Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) as super ultra competitive Max who seems to have it all , but one thing. All he has ever wanted to do is beat his big brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) at anything whether it be a game or just life itself. One night, Brooks decides to invite Max and the crew to a special edition of Game Night, but the only problem is that Brooks is kidnapped for real and Max and co. have to try and save him before it's too late. The film also stars Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls) as Annie, Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) as Sarah, Billy Magnussen (The Big Short) as Ryan, Lamorne Morris (New Girl) as Kevin, Kylie Bunbury (Tut) as Michelle, Jesse Plemons (Black Mass) as Gary, Michael C. Hall (Dexter) as The Bulgarian, and Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Donald Anderton.

In a world full of plenty of dumb comedies, I feel like Jason Bateman who may seem dry as far as his sense of humor, but it's smart comedy. I say that because I loved this movie and you pair him with anyone and it can be funny (well maybe not Identity Thief) just like they did here with the always beautiful Rachel McAdams. In my opinion, they made a great on screen duo that helped carry the film from the inception to the finish. There were other elements that helped in making if funny and it seemed like the perfect pairings like the dumb one with the smart Irish girl and the almost seamlessly perfect couple who have been dating since middle school and now have found a reason to not be so perfect thanks to a game of never have I. I have to give huge props though to Jesse Plemons who plays the off balanced, I'm still obsessed with my wife police officer because he did it so well and he made it unpleasant. There's plenty of fun filled action and plenty of twists that will leave you wanting more and just in case you wondering! They did leave it up to the studio if there would be a sequel, but I would be OK with one film. One of my favorite scenes has to be the bullet removal scene, the back and forth banter between them was just awesome and hilarious. I definitely suggest checking this one out if you need a comedy to watch and you want some adventure with it. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

I am quickly growing to be a huge fan of Bradley Cooper (Guardians Of The Galaxy) after having already viewed A Star Is Born and Burnt. If you do not have the VUDU app then you have to download it because they off great movies to view for free every month and if you keep throwing Coopers films in there I am going to check it out like today’s film Silver Linings Playbook. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, but they only took home one, but it was released in 2012 and was directed by David O. Russell (American Hustle). The film stars Cooper as Pat Solitano, a former high school teacher who just served a stint in a mental hospital after finding his wife cheating with another teacher and he uncontrollably beat that said teacher. Now he is out and all he wants to do is prove to his estranged wife that he is a better man than before and he’ll need Tiffany’s (Jennifer Lawrence) help in order to do so. The film also stars Robert De Niro (Ronin) as Pat Sr., Jacki Weaver (Widows) as Dolores, Chris Tucker (Rush Hour) as Danny, John Ortiz (Steve Jobs) as Ronnie, Julia Stiles (The Omen) as Veronica, Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire) as Jake, Paul Herman (Heat) as Randy, Dash Mihok (Romeo + Juliet) as Officer Keogh, and Anupam Kher (Hotel Mumbai) as Dr. Patel.

One thing has to be said right from the get go and that is the film won the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Jennifer Lawrence who rightfully deserved the award. Bradley Cooper did a great job playing someone who kept telling themselves that they were getting better, but Jennifer put out a great performance as the girl who takes what she wants by any means, but is also vulnerable at the same time. Traumatizing events in life can have a very negative effect and it hits people in different ways and the two of them were examples of that. Bradley Cooper acted out in anger and frustration when situations were not going his way while Lawrence acted out because she was depressed and felt alone. Those are two well known examples of mental health distress, but everyone solves it in their own way and it was the two of them that helped each other. One of the funniest things in the film had to be Chris Tucker who must have escaped Baltimore like three times, but was always escorted back because his technicality didn't work. Robert De Niro was awesome as well as the very superstitious, old school father in a film that featured some great acting. The story si great, the cinematography is great, and there is a great balance of comedy and drama in the film. This is definitely a great one to check out and as I said before, it's available right now on VUDU for free. So, I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Primal Fear (1996)

Last month I started a segment on this blog called Sheldon's Choice which was a list comprised by a fellow film Connoisseur and our first film was Internal Affairs and now we are back with our second film. The film that I chose for today is one that kept seeing in parts whether it be having the ending spoiled for me or only seeing the beginning. The film I am talking about is 1996's Primal Fear which stars Richard Gere (Internal Affairs) as hot shot defense attorney Martin Vail who may have bitten off more than he could chew when he chooses a high profile case. You see a former altar boy is accused of murdering a Priest, but the truth is going to take a lot of digging to get to. The film also stars Edward Norton (American History X) as Aaron, Laura Linney (Mystic River) as Janet Venable, John Mahoney (Say Anything...) as Shaughnessy, Alfre Woodard (Star Trek: First Contact) as Shoat,  Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as Molly, Terry O'Quinn (Young Guns) as Yancy, Andre Braugher (Frequency) as Goodman, Steven Bauer (Scarface) as Pinero, Tony Plana (One Eight Seven) as Martinez, Stanley Anderson (Armageddon) as Rushman, Maura Tierney (ER) as Naomi, Jon Seda (Chicago P.D.) as Alex, and the film was directed by Gregory Hoblit (Hill Street Blues).

If you never have seen this film before then you need to mark this one and put it on your list because it was excellent. The film not only features a masterful performance once again by Richard Gere, but it features a masterful performance from Edward Norton who at this time was proving to be a top notch talent in Hollywood. Richard Gere was masterful in playing the cocky big time lawyer who takes no for an answer, but is a master manipulator when it comes to the courtroom. Edward Norton is the true master in this film because he has all of us believing that he's this innocent, dumb witted, stuttering altar boy who couldn't possibly commit these murders, but his other personality certainly can and that is how he fools absolutely everyone. I loved the cinematography of the film even though they were showing the rougher parts of Chicago, there were still some great shots. The story is solid and the courtroom battles are worth watching. The only thing I wish they could have elaborated on more of was the character of Alex who was the second person on the tape as well as maybe addressing the girl, but I also get why they left it out. Time restraints can be a filmmakers worst nightmare, but then again I never read the book so I don't know if it's addressed there. As I said before, this is one film that you want to put on your list because Linney delivers a great performance in the film as the prosecuting attorney who just wants to light her damn cigarette. So with that being said, I am going to give the film an A for a final grade.

Upgrade (2018)

What if you were told that there was a way for people that are paralyzed whether it be from the waist or neck down that there was something they could do to regain motion? I am thinking that a lot of people would certainly jump at the opportunity to do so because I probably would. That is the very question we face in today's film Upgrade which is a Sci-Fi, Action, and horror film that was written and directed by Leigh Whannell (Insidious: Chapter 3). The film stars Logan Marshall-Green (Spider-Man: Homecoming) as Grey Trace, a mechanic who also happens to be a technophobe, but unfortunately his life will be turned upside down when his wife is murdered and he is left as a quadriplegic. One day, he is offered the chance to walk again by planting a computer chip in his spine and after he accepts it, he goes on a mission to track down the men that wronged him. The film also stars Melanie Vallejo (Power Rangers: Mystic Force) as Asha Trace, Harrison Gilbertson (Need For Speed) as Eron Keen, Benedict Hardie (The Light Between Oceans) as Fisk, Betty Gabriel (The Purge: Election Year) as Det. Cortez, Simon Maiden (The Great Raid) as Stem, Richard Cawthorne (Wolf Creek) as Serk, and Christopher Kirby (Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge Of The Sith) as Tolan.

Ultimately this is another lesson in why technology will be the death of us because nothing worth wild comes without the fine print or the bottom line if you may. I am definitely so happy that I chose to check out this film because when it originally came out, I didn't have time to see it, but this was thinking a little outside the box called Hollywood and running with something original. It's a breath of fresh air in a world polluted with remakes and reboots and good for Leigh Whannell because that whole Saw crew have turned out to be amazing writers. I was glued to my seat the whole entire time because the action is bad ass and the story is just so well written. I though the hunt for the men who did it and the sequences that followed owed a little bit to the film The Crow as he is back to right the wrongs, but there is just this little twist at the end of the film. My screenwriter professor once told me that if you were going to take an idea that was already done, you had to do something different to it to make it original whether it be weapons upgrades or into the future like Leigh did for this film. I loved the cinematography with all the cool fight scenes, but the tone deserves some notice. It has a very brooding look and feel to the film in an almost futuristic feel like Blade Runner and so many more. Some may find my final grade a little shocking, but this was worth the watch and then some so that is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade. 

Toy Story 4 (2019)

We are taking a break this weekend from Sunday at the Classics to check out a film because tonight is the 92ND annual Academy Awards ceremony. Tonight, they'll be handing out Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and so many more. One of the categories that I have always had great luck with is the Best Animated Feature award that I have successfully predicted for the last five years and for today's film I had to check out the film that I am picking for that award in Toy Story 4. The film once again stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia) as Woody, Tim Allen (Home Improvement) as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack (Working Girl) as Jesse, Kristen Schaal (Toy Story 3) as Trixie, Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride) as Rex, John Ratzenberger (Cheers) as Hamm, Blake Clark (Waterboy) as Slinky, and Bonnie Hunt (Rain Man) as Dolly. This time around, the gang is trying to get used to Bonnie's routines, but Woody is having a hard time adjusting. One day, he helps her create a new friend in Forky (Tony Hale), but Forky gets lost at an Antique store and it's up to Woody and an old friend to bring him back before it's too late. The film also stars Annie Potts (Ghostbusters) as Bo Peep, Keegan-Michael Key (Keanu) as Ducky, Keanu Reeves (John Wick) as Duke Caboom, Jordan Peele (Keanu) as Bunny, Christina Hendricks (The Neon Demon) as Gabby Gabby, Ally Maki (Cloak & Dagger) as Giggles McDimples, and the film was directed by Josh Cooley (Inside Out).

So, compared to the previous entry in the franchise which I thought was dark towards the end of the film, this was a much lighter film. The film touches on the idea of being an outcast, an undesirable that feels left out in the cold and it tries to teach you that it's OK to feel that way, but nothing is permanent. They try to teach you in the film that you have to accept yourself for who you are and that sometimes you have to take a chance and think outside the four walls of your room or the proverbial box. The film teaches you that sometimes you just need to accept reality and when you can do that you will be OK because you'll value your true closest friends. Disney films have always been very deep as far as the underlying messages that you don't get as a child until you watch it again as an adult. I think they hope that your brain will just subliminally understand what is happening and you'll be a better citizen for it. I have always been a fan of the franchise and I was very much looking forward to this film, but how does it rank with the rest of them? I thought the story was well done, but the film was more centered on Woody this time around then it was about any other character. I definitely believe with all my heart that this was the franchise's swan song and they did it with dignity. I loved seeing all the different new toys and how they included some from Canada with theirs which was great because I loved having Keanu Reeves there. I don't know what else there is to say because Disney Pixar do not make bad movies. So, I am going to go ahead and give this one an A- for a final grade.

Lars And The Real Girl (2007)

There are some creative minds in the independent filmmaking world that Hollywood has missed the ball on and some that get it. Ryan Gosling (Only God Forgives) has had a knack in his career for giving himself roles that not too many would take which includes today's film Lars And The Real Girl. The film was released in 2007 and it was directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and in the film Gosling plays Lars, a very awkward, shy, and disconnected young man who has had a tough time with what life has thrown at him. After hearing about sex dolls at work, he decides to buy one, but something very strange happens. Lars believes that his doll Bianca is a real person and soon the whole entire town goes with it because they know how special Lars really is. The film also stars  Emily Mortimer (Mary Poppins Returns) as Karin, Paul Schneider (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) as Gus, Kelli Garner (Godzilla: King Of The Monsters) as Margo,  Nancy Beatty (Sea Of Love) as Mrs. Gruner, Patricia Clarkson (Maze Runner: The Death Cure) as Dagmar, Nicky Guadagni (Ready Or Not) as Mrs. Petersen, and Karen Robinson (Bad As I Wanna Be: The Dennis Rodman Story) as Cindy.

I honestly did not know what to expect when I first decided to watch this for free on on the VUDU app, but I have to say that I was pleased with the film overall. The film has this ability to show how caring the world can be no matter how weird the situation is. I mean this had to be a hard situation for anyone to get used to, but they did it because of how special of a person Lars is. I love the contrast too because here you have this brother (Gus) who feels that he is a failure because his brother is in love with a sex doll while his wife (Karin) understands what is happening and she goes with it. Lars has dealt with a lot in his life from the death of his mother and the weird behavior of his father so in order to move on he manifests all of his emotions into this doll as sort of a healing process. By the end, the town is shaken up by the events that it seems like everything will be OK and it's beautiful. This truly is a touching movie about how we should treat those with emotional detachments or struggles. It's so easy to treat someone like they are an outcast or a weirdo instead of taking the time to care for them and get them the help they need. Ryan Gosling puts on a masterful performance in this film proving why he was one of the best young actors in Hollywood in 2007 and why I enjoy his works today. This is definitely a film to check out with all of the amazing performances from everyone in the film. The movie is not completely sad, there is a happy ending of sorts, but you should check this one out if you love Ryan Gosling. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

One of the most iconic villains to ever appear in a comic book could arguably be The Joker with all of his misadventures with the Batman. It was until the 1990's animated series that they would introduce one of the most iconic sidekicks in Harley Quinn. In 2016's Suicide Squad, she had finally hit the big screen with Margot Robbie playing her, but the film was lackluster. Now it's 2020 and she's back with her very own film in Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. Things have been rough for one Harley Quinn, she's dealing with a bad break up with the Joker and she kind of has nothing to do, but no one else in Gotham knows this yet. Well after she decides to blow up one of the Joker's favorite spots, the word gets out and now every one is after her. one Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor) a.k.a. The Black Mass who is trying to regain a stolen diamond from a young girl. With help from some friends, she'll try everything to stop him from catching and potentially hurting the girl. The film also stars Rosie Perez (White Men Can't Jump) as Renee Montoya, Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground) as Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco (Veep) as Cassandra Cain, Chris Messina (Argo) as Victor Zsasz, Steven Williams (Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday) as Captain Erickson, Ali Wong (American Housewife) as Ellen Yee, and the film was directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs).

I went into this film with very low expectations and I left a pretty happy person. I truly felt like this is what Suicide Squad should have been because this is a way better film. The movie was a lot of fun to watch as Harley Quinn broke everything down herself as she narrates the film. I definitely loved the fact that it sort of continues right where Suicide Squad ended or at least that is where it seems like it takes off from. The only thing that I ask is where the hell is the Batman when all of this crap is happening right in Gotham. I mean you have one guy cutting off people's faces and he just keeps doing it without any worries of the Batman. Other than that, I loved all of the action in the film, but what is Warner Brothers deal with doing the slowmotion thing all the time? I get that they want to emphasize the action and the power of those actions, but they went a little overboard. I definitely loved the freedom they had in this film to swear and do all sorts of things that other films have not been able to do. It was just a fun action adventure with one of the craziest gals in Gotham City and I am going to say here and that is I am hoping for a sequel because I believe in more adventures of Harley and her gang of misfits. There were several nods to the comics from all the different costumes like the animated series outfit or The New 52 Harley Quinn on roller skates as well as some pop culture stuff like the Madonna video that they interrupted. I am going to give the film a grade that is somewhere between A-/B+ because this is worth checking out.